MAILBAG:

I read that Million Buck Chuck (DeVore) is going to run for Barbara Boxer’s seat in 2010 (“DeVore throws hat in ring,” Nov. 13). Will a dark blue state vote for a raw, red-meat Republican? He claims the Republican Party is the party of fiscal responsibility! Is he talking about the borrow-and-spending bunch that have not once, not twice, but three times given us the biggest deficit-spending presidents in history? He wants more offshore drilling. Haven’t we had enough spills, and aren’t there enough of those ugly monsters lurking off our coast? DeVore’s illusions of grandeur will only cost him and his supporters millions better spent elsewhere. Mark Twain said, “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.” It seems DeVore, not satisfied with being one, now aspires to be the other.

Lenard Davis

Newport Beach

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Not-so-great use of funds will hurt us

I read in the Los Angeles Times (“Great Park in hunt for money,” Oct. 25) that the county commissioners granted Irvine’s “Great Park” debacle a sum of county money in the amount of “$285,560 to fund a Washington, D.C., consulting firm to help determine how to raise millions to help pay for improvement at the public park ....”

This is money that is being given to lobbyists to attempt to obtain federal government money with earmarks. Can you believe this coming from Orange County commissioners? I can’t!

Several points:

1. The city of Irvine made a point that no public money will ever be required.

2. Why has this information only shown up in The Times and not in your paper, which I supposed was to inform the people of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa?

3. Why is the commissioner who is to represent the people of our two cities coming to the aid of Irvine’s not-so-great park.

Since I assume the money is going to a lobbying group in Washington, D.C., they will work for obtaining earmarks to bail out Irvine.

Newport Beach is unable to get federal funding to help clean out the silt that mainly emanates from the construction in Irvine, but we are supporting this great park farce that is being played on the people of Orange County.

Where are our conservative representatives who will prevent this farce from taking place? Why are the people of Newport Beach not going after Supervisor John Moorlach for allowing this money to be used for a city that said it would assume all cost and the taxpayers of Orange County not 1 cent?

Jack DeLuca